gracefuldancing

Okay. This story is not as bad as it is sad. My baby girl, Jade, hasn't been abused or neglected as such. She is 20 years old, lived with one owner for the first 19 1/2 years of her life in what is assumed to be a happy home. Then her owner died and the owner's son didn't want to "mess with a bird" and turned her over to a rescue. She started plucking. She hasn't done any follicle damage, she still has down everywhere, but even though she seems happy with her foster family, the plucking hasn't stopped. I don't have the first clue, other than I know the first thing I will do is take her to the vet for a full workup to rule out any organic causes for the plucking. After that, I have no idea. Secondly, she doesn't know "step up" or any other command and I have never tried to teach an older bird anything like that. I got my Eclectus, Jasper, as a baby and he was just learning to step up.. but, someone else began the training and I just continued it. I don't know how to make the first move when it comes to teaching this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Finally (and I know this goes in the diet section, but while I'm at it..) she is and has been on a diet that is half seed and half human food - as in cooked, have dinner with me, human food. She's (as far as is known) never had fresh fruits and veggies or pellets. I know I have to change her diet and I have to do it pretty quickly, but I don't know the proper way to go about doing it. I know I have to do it gradually from seeds to pellets, but that is the extent of my knowledge. So, all in all, she doesn't come with many issues.. they're just issues that I have no experience dealing with and I need all the help you guys are willing to provide! Thanks.

Thank you all for the warm welcome. This is definitely the best place I've come across. In answer to the one question, yes she will have a quiet place to chill while she gets used to things and no, my house is not generally busy. The rest I will put elsewhere.

Hello, everyone. My name is Glenda.. and I have visited several forums over the last few days as I am about to take in a rescue CAG and although I have experience with parrots (Eclectus), I've never had a Grey (though I've always wanted one). I have a bunch of questions because she comes with some behavioral and diet issues, but really I want to just make sure I'm not going to be ignored or treated like I'm stupid if I ask them. I have, unfortunately, had that kind of response at several sites. So, this is me, checking things out. pax.